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Controversial! Fun And Also Games! First Comic Book related blog to be featured in the Australian National Library's Pandora archive. Pop culture, music, film and comic book expert. Would be willing to write for biscuits.
2016, 2017 Rondo Award nominee.
Proudly annoying people since 2003.
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Ain't it a stunner? The Lives Of Harry Lime, complete with non-fiction stories by none other than Harry Lime himself, Orson Welles. I tell a slight fib though, this book wasn't an Op Shop find, this one was a few bucks at a book fair here in Adelaide last week. It was worth heading out in the cold and rain, just for this one. And there were other books to be found, including an extensive study of the Bounty mutiny dated 1884. Can't complain.

I was fascinated by the film The Third Man from the time I first saw it on TV. It just bewitched me, and the speech Harry Lime gives on top of the ferris wheel about morality is still utterly chilling. If you've seen the film, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. If not...Holly Martins: Have you ever seen any of your victims?Harry Lime: You know, I never feel comfortable on these sort of things. Victims? Don't be melodramatic. Look down there. Tell me. Would you really feel any pity if one of those dots st…

My guess is that this poster made it to more doors and walls in the early 1970s than paint. Hell, I still want one! I mean, how could it get any better than this? The poster was drawn by Jose Gonzales and first appeared on the cover of Vampirella (Warren) #19. Frankly, who cares where it appeared. Along with the giant Frankenstein's Monster poster drawn by Jack Davis, this was essential and anyone who had one was to be envied, and cursed, but admired until the day their mother/wife/girlfriend/all of the above had enough with looking at it and ripped it in two.

Jealousy. Bloody awful thing really. I mean, if you can't fall in love with Vampirella, then what can you do?

And yes, I still want one. And yes, if you have one, you're a bastard, but well done. Very well done.

So. This. In 1973 the town of Metropolis, Illinois, had a Superman themed exhibition. The whole town turned out to celebrate, and DC Comics were right in there with them. To really get into the swing of things, the local newspaper, The Metropolis Planet (I mean, what else would you call your newspaper) issued a special edition, the cover of which is posted below. And yes, I am still very much digging my new A3 scanner, thanks for asking.

The newspaper is full of ads for various local businesses, all cashing in on the Superman name and brand. There's photos of special events, packed with facts from the TV show and the comic books. Look! There's Carmine Infantino! And Sol Harrison! Both at different events, proudly hoisting the DC flag. There's the Reverend Charles Chandler. And some guy named Mike Forbes, who dressed up as Superman and wandered around posing for photos for the occasion. In fact, anyone and everyone you could think of, related to Superman and hi…

Now I have no idea if this ad ever made it to any American publication, as the only place I've ever seen it is in the Panel Power Comicon III programme. The Comicon was held in Sydney that year, and the programme is packed with illos by Barry Windsor-Smith, Jack Kirby, Mike Royer, Gray Morrow, Carl Barks, John Dixon, Glenn Ford (who drew the cover), Paul Gulacy, Gil Kane, Frants Kantor, Peter Ledger, Paul Power, Bill Stout, Paul Wheelahan, Colin Wilson and a pack of other luminaries.

Good luck tracking it down. It's well worth it, if for the sketches and drawings alone. And no, before you ask, you can't have my copy. I fluked it at a comic book store in Melbourne years ago and have held it close to hand ever since.

Mind you, if you went to the 1981 Comicon, and can remember it, then by all means, share your thoughts in the comments section.

Since I first heard about this book I've wanted one, but each time I bid on a copy on auction sites, or enquired on book sites, I missed out. I had resigned myself to the fate of only having an electronic copy, never a physical one.

Imagine my shock and horror when I walked into an Op Shop (or charity shop for you overseas folks) and found this edition mixed in with some old books, priced at a whopping $4.00. I picked it up and opened it, yes, it was there. The British edition, missing the bibliography, but with the introduction by Randolph Churchill, son of Sir Winston.

As I held it in my hands my first urge was to run as fast as I could out the store, never to return. I quickly came to my senses, handed over a $5.00 note and told them to keep the change. I left, so very happy to finally have this in the collection. I know that the work has been largely discredited, mainly by my excellent friend Dr Carol Tilley, but that doesn't lessen the thrill of the find.

No real reason for this one, other than it was drawn by the utterly brilliant Walter Simonson. Who then took the trouble to sign it.

I just bought a new scanner, an Epson Workforce, to replace my old, old Mustek. I scanned this image because, no matter how many times I tried on the Mustek, it always came out looking like crap, lines, bad colouring, you name it. Now it looks perfect, with all the dings and wear and tear on show. As it should be.

Now someone will tell me how shitty the Epson Workforce scanners are. Go for it. It was cheap, like the budgie, so I'm not overly fussed. It's working well so far, and the scans look great, so shove it up your jumper.